Documents Reflect History Essay, Research Paper

Written documents reflect what has happened. Actions that may have happened in history, give historical documents a reason to be. Although actions may not have occurred to cause documents to be written, they may have been just to prevent them from happening.

The Declaration of Independence clearly states that the American colonists felt that having a political break with Great Britain would be needed. This was stated because the American colonists were getting tired of the high taxes and having their government ruled by a king living across an ocean.

The Constitution of the United States became a document because the people who formatted the Constitution wanted to make a government strong enough to secure the rights of citizens and fight back with the country against its enemies. They wanted this because they wanted to be able to stand up against anyone or anything that came against the government. One of the purposes for the Constitution being written was to make laws and establish courts that are fair. This purpose was stated because if courts are not fair and laws are not just, then it will be as if we were still under the tyrannical rule of the King of England.

The Martin Luther King Jr. ?I Have A Dream? speech is a historical document. This document is known to be a new phase of the civil rights movement beginning in 1960, initiated by a new generation of African Americans and extremely supported by young liberal Caucasians. Many events occurred to give reasoning for this document to be written. Segregation took place and Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for what he believed in. He stated that the African Americans were not free and were not treated equal, as they should be. He specifically states, ?There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.? This document was written because Martin Luther King Jr. felt the same as many other African Americans, hoping that someday all the racism will vanish and the racist will realize that everyone should get a chance at being treated equally.

Of Civil Government by John Locke (1932-1704) became a document stating that we, the people, should take only what we deserve and to not depend on someone else to help you get what you want. Also, we being equal means that we should not hart or harm another in their life, health, liberty, or possessions. Take care of your own life first before you start worrying about other lives. This is all stated because we were given life to achieve goals and make it as easy as we possibly can with out ?slacking?. Nothing on this earth was made to be destroyed; everything was made to be used to the best advantage. Most of us live long enough lives to realize that there may be little room for property but just to make the best of it.

Historical documents are written for a reason. Something had to have happened, gibing the documents reasons to be written. Doing of wrong actions is mainly what caused all of the historical documents to be written, so that there would be a better chance of the wrong actions ever happening again.